LIVE (Photos): Dance Like I’ve Got Diamonds with Dream Nails, 06.12.17

To round off a year of putting on fantastic events promoting women in music, Dance Like I’ve Got Diamonds hosted their last event event of 2017 at The Victoria on Wednesday. In true Christmas spirit, it focused on giving back to society, with all net profits from the event going to women’s aid organisation Nia, who specialise in helping victims of rape and domestic violence in North East London.

Kicking off the live music are Babyarms – Jen Doveton from Colour Me Wednesday’s solo project – delivering their luscious, twinkling indie-pop creations.

Next up, in place of DOLLS who sadly had to cancel due to illness (wish you better, DOLLS!), are Berries. Blasting out their impressive racing riffs and rolling beats with a riotous energy, their raw rock-fused power marks them out as definite ones to watch in 2018.

Headlining the night are our favourite feminist punk witches, Dream Nails. With their seething, punk-filled power, they treat us to a range of super empowering offerings, raging against domestic violence, misogyny and bullies with all the sparkling, buoyant energy you could ever desire. With their unique impassioned charm and raucous force, Dream Nails once again prove why they’re a necessity in our lives right now; continuing to inspire and motivate us all to get to the front and make our voices heard.

Photo Credit: Jon Mo / @jonmophoto

 

Track Of The Day: New Haunts – ‘Reactions’

Inspired by post-punk, early industrial music, synthpop, coldwave and everything in between, New Haunts is a musical force to be reckoned with. Her latest track ‘Reactions’ is a balance of these influences, ringing out with a cold but magnetic energy.

“‘Reactions’ is pretty much about the beauty versus the horror of having emotional connections,” New Haunts explains. “I wanted to encompass both the good and the bad by layering softer, dreamier sounds with bleaker, harsher ones. I play around with opposites a lot in my music – it’s not often I find a subject matter which I feel 100% positive or negative about and that’s a big part of what I love to dissect and examine when I write a song.”

This juxtaposition of themes and sounds work harmoniously on ‘Reactions’. The single is available as a free download from New Haunts bandcamp now. Keep your eyes peeled for her debut album in the near future.

Follow New Haunts on Facebook for more updates.

Photo Credit: Katie Murt

Kate Crudgington
@KCBobCut

PLAYLIST: December 2017

The most wonderful time of the year is fast-approaching, and we’ve got no time to mess around (with the exception of the work Christmas party, those festive drinks tomorrow night, and that gig next week). Us Get In Her Ears grrrls have put together the best selection of treats since your Nan dished out the speciality Christmas-size box of biscuits. Lose yourself in the punk sass of Queen Zee, the important (and catchy) activism of Gaptooth & Sisters Uncut, the divine escapism of Black Gold Buffalo, the beautiful sounds of AmparoBjork and many, many more…

Queen Zee – ‘Idle Crown’
Hot on the heels of their last single ‘Fly The Pink Flag’, my absolute favourites Queen Zee have released brand new track ‘Idle Crown’; and it’s a riotous, hostile, smartly executed three and a half minutes of Marilyn Manson-esque garage punk. Released via the band’s own label (Sasstone Records), the Liverpool band have yet to record something I don’t instantly fall in love with. (Kate Crudgington)

Gaptooth (feat. Sisters Uncut) – ‘They Cut We Bleed’
A tribute to, and raising money for, Feminist direct action group Sisters Uncut – a charity who protest the life-threatening cuts to services for domestic violence – Gaptooth’s ‘They Cut We Bleed’ rages against the government with a frenzied, impassioned energy and empowering force. With shades of the likes of Le Tigre or MEN, it oozes whirring beats, glitchy electronic melodies and colourful uplifting vibes; the perfect call to arms that we need now more than ever. As Gaptooth says: “All these sexist, racist cuts, we don’t need ’em”. Watch the powerful video for ‘They Cut We Bleed’, featuring Sisters Uncut, here. (Mari Lane)

Sink Ya Teeth – ‘If You See Me’
‘If You See Me’ was the debut single from Sink Ya Teeth who signed to James Endeacott’s 1965 Records this year. The track is drenched in addictive beats and nods to post-punk royalty ESG. A particular highlight for me was watching Sink Ya Teeth perform this live at one of our Finsbury nights; catch them if you can, these guys are worth seeing live. (Tash Walker)

Anteros – ‘Love’
My eyes and ears are blossoming in to heart-shapes at the “effervescent pop” sounds on Anteros’ latest single ‘Love’. Produced by Charlie Andrew (Alt-J, Marika Hackman, Bloc Party), The London-based band channel Blondie and The Cardigans on their brand new ode to the all encompassing universal emotion. (KC)

Sonia Stein – ‘Do You Love Me?’
‘Do You Love Me?’, the new single from London based artist Sonia Stein, oozes gloriously sunny, uplifting ‘80s pop vibes, catchy hooks and rich luscious vocals. Of the track, Stein explains: “Do You Love Me is a song that is quite a bright and light approach to a feeling that’s a bit darker and heavier… The track’s accompanied by a fantastic Vogue-inspired, pastel-filled video, which you should definitely feast your eyes on now. (ML)

Amparo – ‘Reset’
If I could…I would have chosen everything that Amparo has released this year, constantly creating such beautiful dreamy soundscapes but if forced (and I am being forced) I’d go with ‘Reset’. A firm favourite of mine taken from Amparo’s EP Isolated Islands which has a melodic-chill atmosphere created with the idea of being enjoyed whilst exploring the outdoors.  Absolutely excellent listening. (TW)

Black Gold Buffalo – ‘Pearls Deep’
If you’re in search of musical escapism, you’ll find it in Black Gold Buffalo’s latest track ‘Pearls Deep’. Written on a stormy night in a tower block somewhere near the A10, the East London band have said the single is about “wanting to escape a brooding mood in the city, to just get up and go somewhere and nowhere.” It’s the first single to be taken from the band’s long-awaited debut album, which is due to be released in March 2018. (KC)

Gold Baby – ‘Feed It!’
In addition to featuring members of some of our favourite bands (like Long Teeth), newcomers Gold Baby create their own hugely infectious offerings. Filled with all the jangly melodies, sumptuous vocals and whirring scuzzy goodness you could ever desire, debut single ‘Feed It!’ is a sunny-sounding slice of indie-rock ruminating on the times in life where we feed it (“the little voice of misery”). A solid gold debut that leaves us eager for more. (ML)

Polo – ‘Gold Horizons’
I was introduced to this track by Mari, so shout out to her for that. This has got to be the catchiest track of the year for me, which makes a change from my normal graveyard, self-deprecating morose electro. Press play for Polo. It’s worth it. (TW)

Björk – ‘The Gate’
One of my 2017 New Year’s Resolutions was to listen to more of Bjork’s music, so the release of her tenth studio album Utopia has arrived just in time for me to fulfil that promise. It’s a superbly produced, delicately sung, gem of an album that brought a tear to my eye on first listen. ‘The Gate’ is a particular favourite because it blends vulnerability and strength in a delightfully idiosyncratic way. (KC)

The Go! Team – ‘Mayday’ 
If you’re anything like me, and Thunder Lightening Strike provided the soundtrack to many a teenage night out, you’ll be as excited as I am to hear The Go! Team’s magnificent new single ‘Mayday’. A morse-code inspired, soul-infused belter of a track, it races with all the frenzied energy and playful joy that we’ve come to know and love from the band – an instant ear worm, and essential dance-inducing addition to any festive party playlist. (ML)

Smerz – ‘Because’
Low slung rhythms, crunching beats and those ever so distinctive vocals, Because in short is some of the best obscure techno-pop around. Copenhagen based duo delivering distorted electro tracks, a perfect mix of minimal futurism and experimental nostalgia.  I’m so into this track, it makes me feel like I want to don a heavy orange bomber jacket, an East 17 style beanie and head down to some industrial rave in a warehouse and two-step the night away. (TW)

Introducing Interview: Reema

The LowSwing Sessions – a beautiful collaboration between her and producer, composer and arranger Guy Sternberg – Reema combines a unique neo-folk sound with avant-garde, jazz-inspired sounds and her captivating, emotion-strewn vocals.

Taken from the album, which was recorded in a completely analogue way, Reema’s new single ‘What The Whisper Said’ is now set for release, so we caught up with her to find out more…

Hi Reema, welcome to Get In Her Ears! Can you tell us a bit about the band?
Hi! I’m a song construction worker, illustrator, fabric designer and dress maker, making bitter sweet home made folk music.

How did you initially start creating music?
I started writing songs when I was seven. I didn’t have a lot of friends and was really shy – music was my way of communicating. I wanted to make people happy all the time, but when I wrote songs I could be honest and say the stuff I wasn’t comfortable with saying out loud.


Your new single ‘What The Whisper Said’ is out very soon – can you tell us what it’s all about?

It’s a ghost story about an old man who has kept a dark secret that has died with his former lover. I based it on a man who lived near me when I was little. I always wondered what his story was.


You’ve been compared to the likes of Beth Orton and Lisa Hannigan, but who would you say are your main musical influences?

I love both those ladies and I’m super flattered to be compared to them! My great loves in music were the bands Love and Fleetwood Mac, but I love listening and I’m always inspired by the people making music around me.

How is your local music scene? Do you go to see lots of live music?
Berlin is amazing for music! There are plenty of places to both watch and perform. My favorite venue is Prachtwerk. It has an incredible high ceiling and an other-worldly atmosphere.

And what can fans expect from your live shows?
The live show is dark, intense and intimate. I play with my friend Stefan on bass clarinet and I’m on electric guitar and vocals. I’m interested in stripping everything back to let the song and the emotion out as much as possible. I love to play live! It’s my favourite thing about what I do. By the end of the show, I feel the audience and I know each other pretty well

As we’re a new music focused site, are there any new/upcoming bands or artists you’d recommend we check out?
Ethan Johns’ solo stuff is brilliant! I also love Bruno Major.

And how do you feel the music industry is for new artists at the moment – would you say it’s difficult to get noticed?
It’s definitely difficult because of the high volume of stuff out there but we have so many tools to self-publish and make a corner for ourselves. It’s hard not to feel overwhelmed by the task of ‘getting yourself out there’ but I think steadily playing shows, making new music and carrying on doing what you do will always make a stronger and healthier base for doing what you do. I think it doesn’t work unless you love all the steps along the way.

Finally, what does the rest of 2017 have in store for Reema?
My next thing will be playing a folk festival show in Budapest at Kis Hall on 16th December, then more shows at the start of next year, more new music too! I will, of course, put some more live videos up on my Facebook for anyone not able to get to a show.

Huge thanks to Reema for answering our questions! 

‘What The Whisper Said’, taken from Reema’s album The LowSwing Sessions, is out on 8th December via LowSwing Records.